Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
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432. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the difficulties faced by parents who are availing of the home tuition grant to secure a suitable tutor for their children as a result of the delays in issuing Teaching Council registration and the necessity for tutors to renew Garda vetting for each child they engage with; if he has satisfied himself with the operation of the system as it currently stands; if he will engage with parents to discuss the way in which the scheme can be improved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1589/17]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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The purpose of the Home Tuition Grant Scheme is to provide funding towards the provision of a compensatory educational service for children who, for a number of reasons such as chronic illness, are unable to attend school.

The scheme also provides a compensatory educational service for children with special educational needs seeking an educational placement. Provision is also made for early intervention for children with autism.

As tuition takes place outside the usual school structure it is important that the educational programme provided generally reflects that which would be provided in a school environment.

It is appropriate therefore that the qualification standard for Home Tuition generally reflects that required in a school environment. Accordingly, it is a condition of the scheme that parents/guardians must recruit a tutor who is qualified in the relevant sector, and is registered with the Teaching Council, similar to the requirement for teachers in schools.

Where all efforts have failed to secure the services of a teacher qualified to teach in the sector concerned, the Department may consider the engagement of a person who is registered with the Teaching Council and has a primary degree (minimum Level 7 on the National Framework of Qualifications) in a relevant area.

It is also a requirement of the scheme that all tutors must be vetted prior to commencing the delivery of tuition. Parents are required to satisfy themselves that tutors have been vetted by the Teaching Council of Ireland since 29th April 2016 via the Teaching Council's online vetting process.

Parents were advised through the Home Tuition Circular 0046/2016, which issued in July 2016, that the vetting process could take a number of weeks. Officials in my Department have not to date been made aware of any substantial delays in this regard.

The operation of the Home Tuition Grant Scheme is reviewed annually. Officials in my Department will shortly be reviewing the terms of the 2017/18 Home Tuition Grant Scheme which will take into consideration any issues arising during the past year including that referred to by the Deputy.